President’s Town Hall:UMES Return to Campus

Update for Faculty & Staff

1Safety Phased Approach

2 3Next Steps

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Presented by Dr. Heidi M. Anderson June 16, 2020

PRESENTATION OUTLINE• Onset of COVID-19

• CDC Recommendations

• Symptom Screening

• Cleaning & PPE

• Accommodations

• Phased Return

• New Normal

• Lessons Learned

• Ongoing Communication

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Timeline in Responding to the Pandemic

• Chancellor’s messages regarding travel (January 24, 2020)

• Coronavirus Update and Conversation with Chancellor (Feb. 3, 2020)

• Implications of COVID – Meeting BOR & Chancellor (Feb. 20, 2020)

• USM Tabletop Exercises (March 4, 2020)

• Chancellor 3x Weekly Conversations (March – Present)

• Transitioned to telework and students sent home (March 16, 2020)

• Notice to students for CARES Funding (May 11, 2020)

• CARES Student funds distributed (June 3, 2020)

• Chancellor’s Return to Campus Preliminary Plans Due (May 27, 2020)

DRAFT SLIDES 3

The Experts We Have Been Listening To…

• Experts on the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) Campus in public health, medicine, (virologists, infectious disease, immunologists)

• Johns Hopkins Medical

• Maryland Department of Health

• Maryland Emergency Management Agency

• Governor Larry Hogan

• CDC

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What We Learned About COVID-19

• This is a new-normal, COV-SARS2 is not going away

• The virus is transmitted person-to-person in close contact (about 6 feet) through respiratory actions (sneeze, cough, respiratory droplets)

• Its impact on those with impaired immune systems (health, age) can be more severe

• There is no vaccine. So we can only manage it, with appropriate safety protocols:• Daily symptom screenings (if you feel sick, STAY at home)• Wash hands frequently• Maintain physical distancing, especially from those who are sick

• A vaccine is under development

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CDC Recommended Safety Protocols

• Mandatory mask wearing in public and group gatherings

• Symptom screening

• Mandatory physical distancing in all settings

• Establishing an isolation residence hall to be used if needed

• Lower density housing, classes, and meetings

• No study abroad

• Using disinfectants meeting or exceeding the EPA's criteria for use against SARS-CoV

• Social responsibility

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Symptom Screening

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Open or Closed?

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New Cleaning Practices

• Housekeeping will regularly check high traffic areas in their normal cleaning routines, throughout morning and evening shifts. Physical plant is following Center of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectants for cleaning.

• Physical plant supervisory staff will carefully review chemical safety data sheets and contact laboratory officials prior to cleaning any laboratories. Staff have, and will continue to use, standard disinfectants and mild soap and water when the electrostatic sprayer cannot be used due to chemicals stored in labs.

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How Will We Keep Restrooms Clean?

• Housekeeping will monitor, stock and clean restrooms several times during both the evening and morning shifts

• Each restroom will have a posted cleaning log and a number to contact for immediate attention

• More housekeeping shifts will be added 7 am – 10 pm,two shifts

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Inventory of PPE … On Hand Now

• We have…..• 600 disposal surgical masks• 140 reusable cloth face masks• 1800 KN95 respirators• 4000 disposal nitrile gloves• 20 gallons of hand sanitizer liquid• 10 small canisters of alcohol surface wipes• 300 Tyvek suits• 25 small glasses• 5 hardhat safety face shields• 1 disinfecting handheld machine

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• Some thermometers have arrived• Additional masks and gloves have

also arrived

• Plexiglass available in areas upon request

Inventory on Order

• Hand Sanitizer, Disinfectant Wipes over 270 cases

• Gloves - 9 cases

• Masks - more than 18,000 (3-ply, disposable, cotton)

• Sneeze Guards

• Face Shields - #200• Gowns - #1600

• Booties/Shoe Covers - #2000

• Safety Glasses - 10 cases • Infrared thermometers - #100

• Disposal digital thermometers - #1600

• Disinfecting handheld machine - #2

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Accommodations for Employees with Health Concerns• Employees with compromised immune systems making them

vulnerable to viral diseases

• Follow USM Guidelines for older employees and those at higher risk from coronavirus (see website)

• Self-identify

• Call ADA Coordinator at 410-651-6135 or email: ADA@umes.edu

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Accommodations for Employees > 65 years

• Those employees who are 65 and older who do NOT have a health condition or have a health condition that does not qualify under ADA

• Those who are caregivers for vulnerable populations

• May seek a temporary job modification by following the “USM Guidelines for Older Employees at Higher Risk for COVID 19” (see website)

• Self-identify

• Contact HR 410-651-6400 or by fax 410-651-6500 or in person

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Phased Return to Campus - Employees

•Phase 1 Essential Employees July 6• Childcare working toward a July 6 opening (Goal)

•Phase 2 Other Employees July 13

•Phase 3 Any remaining employees August 3

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Essential Employees

• President

• Cabinet

• Deans

• Department Chairs

• IT

• Physical Plant

• ALL Admin Assistants of the above

• Athletics - Partial staffing

• Public Safety

• Human Resources

• Academic Administrators

• Researchers

• Institutional Effectiveness unit

• Sponsored Research unit

• Research Grad Student Workers

• Volunteer Returners

• Health Center

• Farm & Extension

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Phase 2: Return to Campus July 13

• All Remaining Employees

• Mid Level Managers & Directors

• Wellness Center

• Athletics Remaining staff

• Some Hybrid Teleworking

• Health professions students (pharmacy)

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Phase 3: Return to Campus August 3

• All undergraduate students: August 3-5

• All remaining graduate students

• All remaining employees who are not approved for telework

• Classes will begin August 10

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Specific Academic Considerations

• Specific dual-enrollment programs which have different start/end dates are being worked on (Students may stay on campus beyond Thanksgiving, if needed)

• Experiential/Internship/Clinical site arrangements are being handled on a program-by-program basis

• Labs may need to split time to allow for physical distance between students/faculty depending on capacity

• New IT equipment purchased to make distance learning easier for faculty and more accessible for students

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Minimize Contact and Reduce Crowding

• Enable distancing within classrooms where possible

• Hold some classes and activities outside, weather permitting

• Re-conceptualize student placements in housing

• Create flexible work schedules: time/day-shifting

• Alternate or extend days to maintain physical distancing in class and work settings

• Supervisors determine work-plans with staff input

• Consider flexible participation where appropriate: remote, online, hybrid

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Communication: Messages

• Signage

• Website Updates

• Social Media Updates

• Posters in Restrooms & Common Areas

• PSAs on WESM

• New screensavers on computers

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What Will We Do When There is a Positive COVID Case? • Students

• Identification of possible case and isolate individual(s)

• Transport team engaged

• Test ordered

• Somerset Health Dept. contacted; Contact tracing begins

• Positive determined – Quarantined; Contacts isolated

• Case and contacts 14 day isolation in Student Apartments

• Faculty and Staff – See personal physician, sick leave, isolation at home

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Lessons Learned

• We have the tools: Blackboard, ZOOM, GooglePhones, GoogleMeet, Google Suite,

• Virtual Orientation prior to student arrival (already planned)

• Graduate Students will have Virtual Orientation, as well

• Virtual Summer Bridge (already planned)

• Students learning was not fully effective online

• Opportunities for additional efficiencies • Electronic signatures on contracts, documents, (DocuSign, HelloSign)

• Common syllabi language

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Ongoing Communication

• Continue to watch updates to umes.edu/RTC

• Continue to send emails to ICARE@UMES.EDU

• Continue to look for messages from leadership

• We will answer your questions as best as possible

• This situation will continue to evolve and change

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